Art of making container bodies



Filed April l,

J M HTHEW asi.,

ART 0F MAKING CONTMNER BGDIES Dec 5I 1942 J. M. HoTHx-:RSALL 2,304,824

ART QF MAKING CONTAINER BDDIES Filed April 18, 1940 Y 3 Shiaetswheei. 5

INVE OR.

Patented Dec. lli, i942 ART F MAKING CONTAKNER BGDMES John M.Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, NewYork,N.. if... a corporation of New Jersey Application April 1s, 194e, seraiNt. :iconic 4. claims (Cl. 11a-mico) The present invention relates to amethod of making container bodies and has particular reference to makingcontainer bodies with welded bail ears attached to them. This is animprovement over the method disclosed in my United States Patent2,056,192, issued Qctober 6, 1936, on the Art of making containerbodies.

In this patent there is disclosed a method of producing container bodiesin a simple and effective manner as by forming a double length tubularbody section and splitting this tubular section in two parts to form twoindependent container bodies. The instant invention contemplates theproduction of such container bod ies with bail ears attached to them.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of forming adouble length tubular container body, attaching a double set of bailears in the proper place to the double body so' formed, prior todividing or severing the double body transversely into two parts toproduce two independent container bodies each having bail ears in properposition thereon.

Another object is the provision of such. o. meth-y od wherein the bailears are welded in place on the container body.

Numerous other objects and advantages oi the invention will be apparentas it is better under- .f

stood from the following description, which,

`taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses Fig. l ona mandrel with its edges overlapped and also showing devices for feedingbail years into place adjacent the blank and devices for welding theears to the blank and for tacking the overlapped edges of the blanktogether;

Fig. 3 is a transverse fragmentary view ci the same features takensubstantially along the line 3 3 in F18. 2;

Fis. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a pair of the bailear welding electrodes as substantially along the line 4--4 in Fig. 2;

Fig.' 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the same or a different mandrelin cross section and showing welding rollers for forming a continuousside seam in 'the body while on the mandrel;

Fig. 'Z is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 'lL-l ino;

Figs. 8 and 9 are schematic longitudinal. ses tional views taken throughcutting heads respectively illustrating two out etages in t". esplitting of a tubular body into container bodies;

Fig. l0 is a cross sectional detail stantially along the line Mlm-lliin. iisg.

liig. il is a perspective view finished can bodies as produced by stepsof operation.

n double length body sheet or "piani: 1) having a potential area for twocontainer bodies is the raw material lor the container bodu ies to bemade. This blanlr is preferably in tubular form as shown in the drawing.the forming of the blank being done in any suitable manner such in mypatent hereinbeiore mentioned.

The tubular blank; 2l is placed upon a mandrel 23 which may be o of asuitable machine ior Acarrying out the stops oi the inQ stant invention.The blank is located ony the mandrel with its longitudinal edgesdisposed ad jacent the the v drei. While auch relative position, theonine. le moved along the mandrel in any suitable manner as by a leedbar 2t (Fig. 3) having depressible spring pressed dogs lt is brought torest at a body sizing shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is still on the alienr d' and body' sizing station the tubular blank 2l is niet clamped tothe mandrel along its tcp by a holding head di which may be of the usualform used in body makers. Side wings 3?; are then moved inwardly againstthe sides of the tubular blank and the latter is wrapper close aroundthe mandrel with the longitudinal edges of the blank brought together,converting the tubular forni blanl; ill into a double tubular body 34.The mandrel. is provided with inner side wings or sizing walls formedwith rounded heads which are hinged at the upper ends in. sockets orpocket "orined in the mandrel.

Before the side wings il@ have completed the wrapping of the body aroundthe mandrel lust described, the sizing walls 53S are moved outW wardlyto properly shape the mandrel to its del sired cross section. Thissection sizes the body 34 and brings it into a predetermined diameter.Movement of the side wings may be eected in any suitable manner as by asliding plate 3d (Figs. Z, 3 and 5) which moves inside andlongttudinally oi the mandrel 23. The plate is forked at its :forwardend into two arms 39 which are slldingly supported in blocks 4i carriedin the mandrel. Each arm 39 is provided with outer extensions 43 havingtapered faces 44 at their forward edges. These faces are adapted toslide against tapered faces 45 formed in projections 46 extendinginwardly from the walls 36.

The rear end of the slide 38 is cut away at @it and a spring 43 islocated within the opening, being interposed between the end of theslide and a stationary block 5| carried in the mandrel 23. This springwhen not compressed holds the slide in retracted position with themandrel walls 3i? collapsed. When the mandrel walls 35 are fully sizedas just referred to, the slide 38 is in forward position and theprojections 43 are inside ot the projections 46 of the walls 38. Themandrel walls may be yieldingly tied together near their bottom freeedges by a spring 53 whichinsures their collapse when the plate Il isslid back to disengage its projections 43 from the wail projections 46.

Movement of the slide 38 to effect this sizing action is made by avertically movable plate 55 which extends upwardly through an opening 58formed in the slide. The plate 55 is formed with an inclined wall 5lwhich engages with a similar wall at one end of the opening 58. Upwardmovement oi the plate is transmitted through the inclined surfaces andthis moves the slide forward and then locks the slide and the mandrelwalls 34 in sizing position.

Provision is made for tacking together and in separated spots, theoverlapped edges of the container body 34 so that its sized diameterwill be maintained when the body is moved from the sizing station. Forthis purpose there is disclosed in the drawings (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) awelding head 5i which is disposed below the mandrel N and which slidesvertically in a slideway formed on a face oi the machine frame, asindicated by the numeral 62. The slide may be moved in any suitablemanner such as by a link S3 which is a usual construction in containerbody makers.

lin electrode unit 65 having a plurality of upwardly extendingelectrodes B8 spaced at intervals along its length is carried on top ofthem welding head 8l and is insulated therefrom in BQ any suitablemanner as by an insulating plate 61. These electrodes constitute thelower electrodes ci the tasking apparatus and receive electric weldingenergy by way of a iiexible bus bar 68 which leads to any suitablesource of such energy.

With the lower electrode unit moves up into contact with the overlappedside seam edges of the container body 34, it presses these edges intoengagement with a cooperating upper electrode unit 'li which is locatedwithin the mandrel and is secured in place by bolts 12. This upperelectrode unit is formed with a plurality of depending electrodes 'ilwhich are located in line with lower electrodes Si. These upperelectrodes receive electric welding energy from a bus bar i@ which leadsfrom the source of energy above mentioned. The bar and the electrodesare insulated from the mandrel by an insulating plate 15.

at the same time that this side seam tacking operation is taking placethe bail ears hereinbefore mentioned and indicated by the numeral ad(Figs. 2 and 3) are being attached to the sized container body 34. Thesebail ears are preferably delivered into proper position adjacent thecontainer body at a predetermined distance from the end of the body byway oi' chutes or runways 82. There are preferably four of theserunways, two on each side of the body and each pair is spaced the properdistance apart to accurately locate the ears relative to the ends of thepotential bodies to be later obtained. These runways terminate in ahorizontal plane which extends through the middle oi' the sized doublebody so that the lowermost ears in the chutes may be attached to thebody in diametrically opposed positions.

Adjacent the terminal ends oi the runways on each side of the bodymandrel there is disposed an ear electrode unit 85 (Figs. 2 and 4)having a pair of vertically spaced electrodes lrwhich are in line withthe top and bottom of the flange part of the lowermost ear in eachrunway. These electrodes constitute the outer ear electrodes and receiveelectric welding energ;r from the source herelnbefore mentioned as byway of flexible bus bars` l1.

The ear electrode units 85 are carried in and are insulated fromhorizontal slides ll which operate in slideways 8! formed in the machineframe 82. The slides may be operated in any suitable manner in time withthe other moving parts of the machine. Hence when the slides move towardthe mandrel 2l the outer ear electrodes 86 engage the ange part of thelowermost bail ear in all the runways 82 and press them against thecontainer body 34 for the ear welding operation.

These outer ear electrodes cooperate with a similar set of inner earelectrodes 8| which are formed on an inner electrode unit 92 disposedinside the mandrel. This unit is carried on an insulating block 83 whichis secured in the sizing walls 3B. The electrodes receive electricwelding energy from the inner tasking electrode unit 'Il by way of wires94 which connect these members.

Contact of the outer ear electrodes B6 with the inner ear electrodes 9ithrough the bail ear and the container body interposed between themcompletes the welding circuit and thus welds the ears to the containerbody. In this welding operation there are four bail ears secured intheir proper places to the double length body so that when the body issubsequently divided into two separate bodies each of these separatebodies will have its required two bail ears located in the proper place.

After this bail ear welding operation the tacked container body isreleased by contraction of the sizing wings 32. 36 and is thereuponadvanced along the mandrel for further operations. As the container bodymoves out ot the tacking station the ears secured to the body leave therunways by way of openings 88 formed in the sides thereof.

Since the rear-most bail ear on each side oi the body must pass throughthe foremost runway as the body moves along the mandrel, provision lmade to prevent the next above bail ears in the runways from immediatelyfalling down to their place in the bottom of the chutes before the earswhich are welded to container body are entirely clear of the chutes.This is brought about by movable holding lingers il which are pivoted onlugs Il which extend up from the machine frame 82.

The lower ends of these holding lingers $1 are formed with hook sectionswhich engage under the bail ear next above the lowermost one in thechutes and thereby hold up the entire stack until released by withdrawalof the linger. Actuation oi' the nnger at the proper time, as when asubsequent container body is brought into the tacking station, may beeffected in any suitable manner in time with theother moving parts oithe machine.

The tacked container body 34 is advanced into a side seam weldingstation (Figs. 6 and '1) where the overlapped and tacked edges of thebody are further welded together in a tight side seam. This weldingoperation may be effected while the body is on the mandrel 23 or maytake place on a separate or continuing mandrel if desired. The weldingis preferably done while the overlapped side seam edges of the body areadvanced be- .tween a pair oi' roller electrodes lili, |||2.

Roller is disposed inside the mandrel and is rotatably mounted on a pin|23 carried in a bracket I secured to and insulated from the mandrel.Electric welding energy is transmitted to the electrode by way of a busbar which extends through the middle of the mandrel. An opening |26 inthe mandrel and through which the electrode extends, permits theelectrode to v engage the passing container body.

The electrode |02 is disposed below and out side the mandrel and invertical alignment with the upper inner electrode. This outer electrodeis mounted on a pin |08 carried in a bracket l" secured to but insulatedfrom a pad which may be a part of the machine frame. The elec trodereceives electric welding energy by way of a bus bar ||2 which isconnected to the bracket |09. Rotation oi these electrodes is effectedby frictional contact with the moving container body which is fedforward in suitable manner.

The fully welded container body with its now continuous side seam isstill a vdouble body which requires only circumferential splitting orrtransverse severance at its center to produce the two desired containerbodies. For this cutting operation the double body is positioned upon apair of cutting heads |2|, |22 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10).

The head |2| is mounted upon the end of a tubular member which is formedwith an outwardly projecting flange |24 yagainst which one end of thehead |2| abuts. Locknuts |25 are threadedly engaged upon the tubularmember |23 and .hold the head |2| tightly against the projection.

The head |22 is mounted in a similar manner upon a member |26, the innerend of the head resting against a projecting ilange |21. Locknuts |28threadedly engaging the member |28 hold the head |22 in position againstits flange projection |21.

The members |23, |26 are suitably mounted for rotation on a common axisand are movable Alongitudinally of that axis so that they may beseparated one from the other a distance suiiicient to allow positioningof the container body 3| on the heads |2| |22. When the body ils-inplace on the heads its end. edges engage against flanges |3I, |32 formedon the respective heads thus clamping the body in position. It lwill beunderstood that the body 34, the heads |2|, |22, and the members |22,|26 areall rotated in unison on a central longitudinal axis.

Cutting or transverse severance of the contain er body is preferablydone by a pair of cooperat ing shear or slitter rollers |35, |36. Roller|35 is disposed outside the body on a shaft |31 which is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the rotatins heads |2|, |22. The shaft may bejournaled 75 .ears on opposite sides of the tubular body, r

in suitable bearings and ha f be suitable manner. engages t. surface cithe container body;

The cutting roller i disposed container body Si, between ends of the|23, |22 and is mounteyl on o strait nl. in an eccentric sleeve Thesleeve trically mounted in |26. The outer end or? the sleeve to with an.operating aren so the may be rotated relative acens the latter rotates.

The normal position oi" the cutting .roller l|26 is as shown in Fig. iiWhere it is ont on tact with the container body. However,

ries its own set oi two bail ears disposed. on d metxically opposedsides o??? the body, This f pletes the making of the container bodies e;

1 e er for ilanging the ends thereoi. Lila lancio t be effected in theusual manner common i tain'er making practice if auch ilanges are lsired. In some eases where the are afilxed by welding, the flanges mayor not be desired.

It is thought that the invention its attendant advantages nn from theforegoing description, it t apparent that various he the steps oi themethod ed. f order of aocompiiel'nnent Without o from the spirit andscope of the invention sacrificing all oi its materie' method.hereinheiore preferred embodiment thereof..

l claim:

i. nlhe method of making a sheet metal talonya lar mn body having asecured side seein and bail ears secured to opposite sides the-reci,'which compie es providing a can body biente around an expansiblemandrel, positioning o il ears on. opposite sides ci the 'tubular body,panding said mandrel to espandi said align its meeting edges in a side oregister opposite portions oi enw gagement eviti/1 the positionedsecuring the aligned edges oi the bienio in a side seam to a can bodyand scanning said eem to @moeite sides of said hoe hy `insicuri oimetal, each. oi seid. securing operations taining place while said ismaintained ir' the position to which it was en panded on the ma el.

2. The method making a sheet metai talon lar can body having a weldedside seam and ears welded to opposite side thereof, which prisesproviding a body around an expansible mandrel, positioning pending saidmandrel to endend to align its meeting edges .in a side seam to registeropposite portions oi said body ons gagement with the positioned ears.Welding the side seam to form a can body and welding said ears toopposite sides of said body, each of said welding operations takingplace while said body is maintained in the position to which it wasexpanded on the mandrel.

3. The method oi making sheet metal tubular can bodies each having awelded side seam and bail ears welded to opposite sides thereof, whichcomprises successively advancing a plurality oi can body blanks intubular form having unsecured side seams along an expansible mandrel soan operating station, feeding a plurality of bail ears along separatepredetermined paths into successive registry with diametrically opposedsides of said tubular blank at said station, expanding said mandrel atsaid station while a said tubular body is momentarily held at saidstation to expand the body and overlap its meeting edges in a side seamand to register diametrically opposed portions of said body inengagement with a pair of positioned ears at said station, and Weldingthe lapped side seam to iorm a can body having a secured side seam whileWelding said positioned earsto opposite sides of said body, each oi saidside seam and ear welding operations taking place at said station whilesaid body is maintained in the position to which it was expanded on themandrel.

4. The method of making a tubular sheet metal can body member having anarea of two potential can bodies and having a welded side seam andspaced pairs of bail ears welded to opposite sides thereof, comprisingproviding a double tubular can body blank wrapped around an expansiblemandrel, positioning spaced pairs of bail ears on opposite sides of saidtubular body member, expanding said mandrel to expand said member toalign its meeting edges in a side seam and to register opposite portionsof said body member in engagement with the spaced pairs of positionedears, Welding the side seam to form a tubular can body having a securedside seam and welding said spaced pairs of ears to opposite sides ofsaid body member, each of said welding operations occurring While saidbody member is maintained in expanded position on the mandrel, wherebyto condition said tubular body member for transverse severance into twoseparate container bodies each having a Welded side seam anddiametrically oppositely disposed bail ears welded thereto JOHN M.HOTHERSALL.

